Did ruptured bilateral masses lead to infertility?

Queens County (Ny) Supreme Court—A 31-year-old woman presented to her physician with complaints of abdominal pain and nausea. A sonogram was performed, and she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Three months later, however, large bilateral adnexal masses ruptured, resulting in tuboovarian abscesses and necessitating a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

In suing, the woman claimed that the physicians did not review the sonogram report and erroneously diagnosed her with IBS. Had the clinician properly diagnosed the masses, he could have performed an ovarian cystectomy prior to their rupture, thus preserving her fertility. The physician contended that the woman’s longstanding history of severe endometriosis and a prior myomectomy precluded her from having children naturally.

The case settled for $365,000.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.